Tubing seal for reciprocating pumps



F. M. HUDSON -TUBING SEAL FOR RECIPROCATING PUMPS Dec. 15, 1936.

Filed April 1o', 1954 rTaeA/E CTI Patented Dec. 15, 1936 omen STATESPATENT FFHCE Frank M. Hudson, Walnut Park, Calif., assignor to PacificPump Works, Ltd., Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation l CaliforniaApplication April 10, 1934, Serial No. 719,873

16 Claims.

lVly invention relates to a means for sealing an annular passage formedbetween two concentric pipe members, and relates in particular to adevice of this character adapted to seal off an oil tube or pump tubearound a pump placed therein.

in the pumping of oil wells modern practice is tending toward the use ofwhat is known as the insert type of pump which is lowered into a pumptube ordinarily left in the well, instead of the pump being secured tothe lower end of the tube so as to require the pulling of the pump tubeeach time repair or replacement of pump parts is necessary. Such insertpumps are provided with metal seat members which engage a seat membersecured in the lowerend of the pump tube, there being an annular spacearound the pump body, within the tube, in which sand and other solidmaterials from the pumped oil may settle so as to bind the pump so as toresist removal thereof.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple means adapted for useat or above the upper end of a pump or other member which is loweredinto a well, such means being capable of sealing engagement with thetubing. In the preferred use of the invention the sealing means preventsthe settling of sand into the space around an insert pump and thereforeassures freedom of the pump for removal from the pump tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tubing seal of suchconstruction that it may be removed upwardly through the tubing Withouta Swabbing action relative to the tubing. This new sealing means isadapted to be held in operative engagement with the tubing in theworking position thereof, and is so constructed that when it is liftedfrom its working position, a space may be produced therearound throughwhich fluid may downwardly iiow, and a condition is produced in thesealing means which will not cause a svvabbing of the pump tube duringthe removal of the sealing means therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing device havinga sealing element adapted for sealing engagement with the tube, thesealing device further having a by-pass extending above and below thesealing means and adapted to be opened when it is desired to lift thepump so that fluid may readily ilow from one side to the other of thesealing means through the open by-pass.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing device havingcooperating parts of (Cl. 10S-181) simple form adapted for telescopingengagement so as to be relatively moved from collapsed to extendedposition, such Sealing device having cooperating parts which willproduce effects such as hereinabove set forth when the principal partsof the sealing device are respectively in collapsed or extendedrelation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evidentthroughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a vertically sectioned view showing a pump tube having aninsert pump therein equipped with a form of my new sealing device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section showing the sealingdevice with the parts thereof in sealing position.

Fig. 3 is a cross section similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts of thesealing device in extended relation.

To illustrate the general utility of the invention, I show a pump tubeII extending downwardly in a well casing I2, this pump tube having aseat tting I3 at its lower end which may be equipped with an intake tubeI4. Into this pump tube II a reciprocating type pump I5 has been loweredby means of a string of sucker rods I6, the lower end of which extendsthrough a sealing device I1 into the interior of the pump I5 whereinconnection of the sucker rod string I6 to the pump piston, not shown, ismade. The sealing device I1 has a sealing element I8 which separates theannular space 20 around the pump I5 from the space 2l within the tube IIabove the sealing element I8, so that sand or other material cannotsettle into the space 2D so as to lock the pump I5 against removal. Thesealing device Il, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a lower sleevemember 22 which is adapted to be connected by threads 23 at its lowerend to the upper end 24 of the pump I5. Cooperating with the lowersleeve member 22 is an upper sleeve member 25 consisting of an annularbody 26 having a plurality of spring fingers 21 extending downwardlytherefrom, and an upwardly extended threaded portion 28 adapted toreceive an internally threaded locking ring 30 and a guide fitting 3|for the sucker rod lSa of the sucker rod string I6.

The upper and lower sleeve members 25 and 22 are in telescoping relationso that they may move between the collapsed relation shown in Fig. 2 andthe extended relation shown in Fig. 3. 55

The annular body 26 of the upper sleeve member 25 has an annular wallportion 32 preferably formed with radial shoulders 33 and 34 at theupper and lower ends thereof. This annular wall portion 32 is receivedin an annular counterbore 35 formed in the upper end of the lower sleevemember 22 when the members 22 and 25 are in collapsed relation, as shownin Fig. 2, the lower shoulder 34 of the upper sleeve member 25 restingin sealing engagement with an annular radial shoulder 3l forming thelower end of the counterbore 35 of the lower sleeve member 22. Forreleasably holding the members 22 and 25 in the collapsed relation inwhich they are shown in Fig. 2, the spring fingers 21 are provided attheir lower ends with outwardly eX- tending dogs 33 formed with upwardlyfacing radial shoulders 39 positioned so as to engage an inwardly andupwardly sloping shoulder 4I formed at the lower end of a ring orannular wall 42 which projects inwardly from the bore 43 of the lowersleeve member 22 near the lower end thereof. The engagement of the uppercorners 4&3 of the dogs 38 at the lower ends of the spring fingers 2lwith the sloping wall i produces a downward force in the upper sleevemember 25 tending to hold the shoulder 34 tightly against the shoulder3l. The relative positions of the lower and upper sleeve members and 25when they are in extended relation are controlled by the engagement ofthe shoulders 39 of the dogs 38 with a downwardly facing shoulder i5formedV in the bore of the sleeve near the upper end thereof but belowthe upwardly facing shoulder 3?.

The sealing element i3 is of cup-shaped character, and the inner annularedge 46 is gripped between the upper shoulder 33 of the annular body 26and the locking ring 3i! in such position that when the lower and uppersleeve members 22 and 25 are in collapsed relation, as Shown in Fig. 2,the radial web portion 4'! of the sealing element i8. will rest upon theupper end face 48 of the lower sleeve member 22, this upper face beingpreferably slightly dished as shown. Accordingly, when the sealingdevice is in operative condition, as shown in Fig. 2, the sealingelement lil is supported upon the upper end of the lower sleeve member22 in such a manner that the lip fila thereof will rest against theinner face of the tube il', to be forced tightly aga-inst the tube H bythe pressure of iiuid accumulating in the upper part 2l thereof. Thesealing element E23 is of exible character and may be made from aplurality of very thin cups set one within the other or from a number ofcircular sheets of material of such iiexibility that the peripheralportions thereof will bend upwardly into cup-like form when such sheets,combined in stacked relation to form the sealingr element i3, are forceddownwardly within the tube Il. A feature of the invention is that thesealing element i3 shall be of such flexibility that when it is raisedfrom the annular supporting wall 48, as shown in Fig. 3, it will turninside out so as to assume a drooping position wherein uid may iiowreadily downward around the exterior thereof, as indicated by arrows 58,and so that it will not engage the tubing with any material pressure. Inother Words, when the sealing element is in the inverted or droopingposition in which it is shown in Fig. 3, the sealing device l1 with. itsattached pump may be pulled through the tube H without swabbing of theinner Wall of the tube by the sealing means and without frictionalresistance due to the engagement of the sealing element i8 with the tubeH.

When it is desired to remove the pump i5 from the Well, the sucker rodstring i5 is pulled upwardly with some velocity until the piston securedat the lower end thereof within the pump I5 strikes the lower ends ofthe ling s and forces the dogs 3S from engagement with the latchingshoulder 4i, thereby permitting the up per sleeve member to be moved bythe into its raised position, or extended relation, shown in Fig. 3.This upward movement of the upper sleeve member 25 will carry thesealing element It upwardly, and the upward movement of the sealingelement i8 relative to the tube ii will cause the sealing element iS toturn inside out. The upward movement of the upper sleeve 25 has anadditional important function and conn tributes to an additionalvaluable feature of the invention, namely, the opening of a by-pass 5iconsisting of radial ports in the guide tting 3l, the bore of theannuiar body and vertical openings 53 between the iingers 2l, so thatthe entire flow ci fluid downwardly the sealing device need not bearound the exterior of the sealing element it but have a portion thereofdiverted through the paths pro vided by the by-pass 5|, as indicated byarrows 52, 54, and 55. Means are provided for i eventn ing relativerotation of the lower and upper sleeve members 22 and 25 so that membersof suitable character may be screwed on or oi the upper end of theannular body Such means for preventing relative rotation of the members22 and 25 comprise radial pins 55 which project into the slots oropenings 53 between the fingers 21.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple andpractical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereofare representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may beused in substantially the same manner to accomplish subst J the sameresults; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded thefull scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; an upper sleeve member in telescoping engagement with saidlower sleeve member and adapted to be moved between collapsed andextended relation thereto, there being a sealing element on said uppersleeve member engaging said tubing, such sealing element be ingcup-shaped and being so supported that it may turn inside out when movedupwardly relative to said tubing, and there being a by-pass passagethroughsaid upper sleeve member ei:- tending from a point above saidsealing element to a point below said sealing element; and means carriedby said lower sleeve member for closing said passage when said sleevemembers are in collapsed relation, said by-pass passage being open whensaid sleeve members are in extended relation so as to permit a by-passof fluid through said sealing device from one side to another of saidsealing element.

2. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; an upper sleeve member in telescoping engagement with saidlower smeeve mem-- ber and adapted to be moved between collapsed andextended relation thereto, there being a sealing element on said sealingdevice operative between said sealing device and the wall of saidtubing, such sealing element being an upwardly faced, expansible cup ofsuch flexibility and being so supported as to turn inside out when movedupwardly relative to said tubing and permit a downward flow of fluidtherearound during the raising of the sealing device through the tubing,and there being a by-pass passage through said sealing device extendingfrom a point above said sealing element to a point below said sealingelement; and means forming a part of said sealing device operating toclose said by-pass passage when said sleeve members are in one oi saidrelations and to open said by-pass passage when said sleeve members arein the other of said relations so as to permit a by-pass of fluidthrough said sealing device from one side to another of said sealingelement.

3. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above said lowersleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing, therebeing a by-pass passage in said upper sleeve member connecting anexterior point above said sealing element with an exterior point belowsaid sealing element; and means forming a part of said lower sleevemember for closing said by-pass passage when said upper sleeve member isin collapsed relation to said lower sleeve member.

4. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above .saidlower sleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing,there being a by-pass passage in said upper sleeve member connecting anexterior point above said sealing element with an exterior peint belowsaid sealing element; means forming a part of said lower sleeve memberfor closing said by-pass passage when said upper sleeve member is incollapsed relation to said lower sleeve member; and releasable latchmeans operative between said sleeve members to hold them in collapsedrelation.

5. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedre lation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above saidlower sleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing, andbeing so placed on said upper sleeve member as to engage the upper endof said lower sleeve member when said sleeve members are in collapsedrelation, there being a by-pass passage in said upper sleeve memberconnecting an exterior point above said sealing element with an exteriorpoint below said sealing element; and means forming a part of said lowersleeve member for closing said by-pass passage when said upper sleevemember is in collapsed relation to said lower sleeve member.

6. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above said lowersleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing, and beingso placed on said upper sleeve member as to engage the upper end of saidlower sleeve member when said sleeve members are in collapsed relation,there being a bypass passage in said upper sleeve member connecting anexterior point above said sealing element with an exterior point belowsaid sealing element; means forming a part ci said lower sleeve memberfor closing said by-pass passage when said upper sleeve member is incollapsed relation to said lower sleeve member; and releasable latchmeans operative between said sleeve members to hold them in collapsedrelation.

7. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a' pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from saidlower sleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed andextended relation; a sealing element in the ferm of an upwardly facedcup mounted on said upper sleeve member in a position to engage theupper end of said lower sleeve member when said upper sleeve member isin collapsed relation to said lower sleeve member, there being a by-passpassage in said upper sleeve member connecting an exterior point abovesaid sealing element with an exterior point below said sealing element;and means forming a part of said lower sleeve member for closing saidby-pass passage when said upper sleeve member is in collapsed relationto said lower sleeve member.

8. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to kbe lowered throughsaid tubing; means ior connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and .extendedrelation; a sealing element in the form of an upwardly faced cup mountedon said upper sleeve member in such position that the radial wallthereof will engage the upper end of said lower sleeve member when saidsleeve members are in collapsed relation and so that the peripheralportions thereof will engage said tubing, there being a by-pass passagein said upper sleeve member connecting an exterior point above saidsealing element with an exterior point below said sealing element; meansforming a part of said lower sleeve member for closing said by-passpassage when said upper sleeve member is in collapsed relation to saidlower sleeve member; and releasable latch means operative between saidsleeve members to hold them in collapsed relation.

9. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from, saidlower sleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed andextended relation; a sealing element in the form of an upwardly facedcup mounted on said upper sleeve member in a position to engage theupper end of said lower sleeve member when said upper sleeve member isin collapsed relation to said lower sleeve member, said sealing elementbeing of such ilexibility as to turn inside out when moved upwardly fromengagement with the upper end of said lower sleeve member, there being aby-pass passage in said upper sleeve member connecting an exterior pointabove said sealing element with an exterior point below said sealingelement; and means forming a part of said lower sleeve member forclosing said bypass passage when said upper sleeve member is incollapsed relation to said lower sleeve member. 10. A sealing device ofthe character described, adapted for use in a tubing, including: a lowersleeve member adapted to be lowered through said tubing; means forconnecting said lower sleeve member to the upper end of a pump; an uppersleeve member extending upwardly froml said lower sleeve member andbeing slidable therein between collapsed and extended relation; asealing element in the form of an upwardly faced cup mounted on saidupper sleeve member in such position that the radial wall thereof willengage the upper end of said lower sleeve member when said sleevemembers are in collapsed relation and so that the peripheral portionsthereof will engage said tubing, said sealing element being of suchflexibility as to turn inside out when moved upwardly from engagementwith the upper end of said lower sleeve member, there being a by-passpassage in said upper sleeve member connecting an exterior point abovesaid sealing element with an exterior point below said sealing element;means forming a part of said lower sleeve member for closing saidby-pass passage when said upper sleeve member is in collapsed relationto said lower sleeve member; and releasable latch means operativebetween said sleeve members to hold them in collapsed relation.

11. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above said lowersleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing, therebeing a by-pass passage in said upper sleeve member connecting anexterior point above said sealing element with an exterior point belowsaid sealing element; means forming a part of said lower sleeve memberfor closing said by-pass passage when said upper sleeve member is incollapsed relation to said lower sleeve member; releasable latch meansoperative between said sleeve members to hold them in collapsedrelation; and means for preventing relative rotation of said sleevemembers.

12. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; and a sealing element in the form of an upwardly faced cupmounted on said 'upper sleeve member in a position to engage the upperend of said lower sleeve member when said upper sleeve member is incollapsed relation to said lower sleeve membensaid sealing element beingof such iiexibility as to turn inside out when moved upwardly fromengagement with the upper end of said lower sleeve member.

13. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above said lowersleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing, therebeing a by-pass passage in said sealing device connecting an exteriorpoint above said sealing element with an exterior point below saidsealing element; and means closing said by-pass passage when said sleevemembers are in collapsed relation, said by-pass passage being open whensaid sleeve members are in extended relation.

14. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a lower sleeve member adapted to be lowered throughsaid tubing; means for connecting said lower sleeve member to the upperend of a pump; an upper sleeve member extending upwardly from said lowersleeve member and being slidable therein between collapsed and extendedrelation; a sealing element on said upper sleeve member above said lowersleeve member and having sealing engagement with said tubing, therebeing a by-pass passage in said sealing device connecting an exteriorpoint above said sealing element with an exterior point below saidsealing element; means closing said by-pass passage when said sleevemembers are in collapsed relation, said by-pass passage being open whensaid sleeve members are in extended relation; and latch means forreleasably holding said sleeve members in said collapsed relation.

15. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a seal supporting member adapted to be moved into aposition within said tubing; and a cup-shaped sealing member on saidsupporting member adapted to make sealing engagement with the inner wallof said tubing when in normal position on said supporting member, saidsealing member being so flexible and being so supported as to be turnedinside out when moved in reverse direction in said tubing so as topermit fluid to ow around the exterior thereof.

16. A sealing device of the character described, adapted for use in atubing, including: a seal supporting member adapted to be moved into aposition Within said tubing; a shoulder member having axial movementJrelative to said seal supporting member; and a cup-shaped sealing memberon said supporting member adapted to rest against said shoulder memberand make sealing engagement with the inner Wall of said tubing When innormal operating position, Said sealing member being so flexible as toJturn inside out when moved with said supporting member away from saidshoulder member, so as to permit uid to oW around the exterior thereof.5

FRANK M. HUDSON.

